Infant sleep sling

Abstract

A sling for supporting an infant comprises a harness element attachable to a carrier and an infant supporting element attachable to the harness. The support element receives and supports the infant such that the longitudinal axes of the infant and the carrier are substantially aligned and the infant lies at an angle above the horizontal in a range which allows the infant and the carrier to engage eye contact.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a sling for supporting an infant, and in particular to a sling which is adapted to support an infant in a position which is conducive to induce sleep in the infant.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Many infants experience a condition known as “colic”. The condition is not well understood and is used to describe stomach and intestinal pain with no other obvious cause. Colic affects infants most between 6 to 12 weeks of age. It is reported that over 70% of infants between these ages experience substantial colic pain. In addition to experiencing pain, an infant suffering from colic will find it difficult to sleep. The period between 6 and 12 weeks of age coincides with the period when a child's sleep patterns are formed. Colic pain often disrupts sleep patterns. Such disruption in the 6 to 12 week old age range can result in disrupted sleep patterns throughout infancy and the preschool years.[0003]In addition to colic preventi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0025]The sling of the invention provides a number of advantages. The infant is supported in the sling in the same position as illustrated in FIG. 1 below, which means that the infant's legs lie to the side of the carrier and are effectively locked in this position against movement upward and backward (bending at the knee). This position elongates the stomach and has been found to relieve colic. If the infant's legs are not held in this position, it is likely that upon experiencing colic pain, the infant's legs will move upward and backward as described above. This is a reflex reaction to the pain experienced by the infant, but in fact worsens the colic symptoms. Further, the sling allows the infant's arms fall to the side upon falling asleep, opening up the infant's air ways and relaxing the infant. The sling supports the infant such that it faces the carrier, thereby allowing the eyes of the infant and carrier to engage with each other. Research has demonstrated that when a young infant is over stimulated, they react to such stimulation by going to sleep. Hence, for an overtired infant, sleep can be induced by supporting the infant in a position in which it is stimulated. The sling allows the carrier to support an infant in the position illustrated in FIG. 1 for a lengthy period of time without tiring or suffering from back pain.

[0026]The sling of the invention allows an infant supported therein to be rocked gently simply by the carrier swaying his hips. This technique can be used to take advantage of the phenomenon of sticky attention to assist in getting the infant to sleep. The infant's gaze may be caught by the eyes of the carrier, or a light or other object in a room. By rocking the infant, the infant's eyes are caused to move. The infant is not capable of disengaging its gaze and therefore its eyes must move in order to remain focused on the object.

[0027]Another advantage which may be provided by the sling of the invention is that the carrier may massage the back of the infant whilst it is supported in the sling. This requires at least a part of the sling to be fabricated of a soft material, or an opening to be provided in the sling.

Problems solved by technology

In addition to experiencing pain, an infant suffering from colic will find it difficult to sleep.

Colic pain often disrupts sleep patterns.

Such disruption in the 6 to 12 week old age range can result in disrupted sleep patterns throughout infancy and the preschool years.

In addition to colic preventing infants from sleeping, in the period between 6 to 12 weeks of age, infants are increasingly awake during the day, which can lead to them becoming over tired in the evening, when the parent wants the infant to sleep.

This over tiredness can prevent the infant from being able to get to sleep, which is manifested by the infant crying excessively and needing to be held.

This can give rise to back pain, fatigue and stress in the parent.

Research also shows that infants suffering from colic are more likely to be abused or not well cared for, owing to parental depression resulting from lack of sleep of the parents.

However, whilst this device supports the infant in a position which alleviates the symptoms of two conditions which fall under the broad term “colic”, it does not assist the infant to go to sleep, where the inability to go to sleep is caused by something other than colic.

Further, for the infant with colic, the device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,368 does not provide for the infant to be rocked.

As discussed above, holding an infant for an extended period of time may result in back pain in the person holding the infant, irrespective of the position in which the infant is being held.

In addition to exhibiting “sticky attention” infants may also be over-stimulated if they receive too much information, such as light or sound.

Notwithstanding the widely recognised problems of colic and getting infants off to sleep, and associated with that an increased incidence of tiredness, depression and back pain in the parents of infants, and the wide availability of slings and the like for carrying babies, there is no sling available for supporting an infant in a position such that sleep is induced in the infant.

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